Germany's President Christian Wulff is opening a visit to Russia aimed at deepening the political and economic ties between the two powers.

The five-day visit by the German president, whose job is mainly ceremonial, is expected to include talks in Moscow on October 12 with his Russian counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, and Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.

The trip is scheduled to include stops later this week in the Russian cities of Tver, St. Petersburg, and Ulyanovsk, during which the German president is expected to examine the potential for German investment in Russian business and modernization projects.

Germany is Russia's largest single trading partner. compiled from agency reports